Duplicate-whist tray.



PATENTED OCT. 27, 1903.

G. M. PIERCE. DUPLICATE WHIS'I' TRAY.

PPLI ON I P PATENTED 001". 27, 1903.

- e. M. PIERCE;

DUPLICATE WHIST TRAY. APPLICATION FILED APR. 8 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 H0 MODEL.

511 wanloz o o. a a w h A co. mura -who wAsnlun ou, n. c

UNITED STATES Patented October 2'7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. PIERCE, OF BRODHEAD, \VISCONSIN.

DUPLICATE-WHIST TRAY.

atent No. 742,729, dated October 27, 1903.

(No model.)

To al whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brodhead, in the county of Green and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Duplicate-Whist Trays, of which the following is a specification.

The invention as herein set forth consists of new and novel improvements in trays forming a part of duplicate-whist apparatus, comprising, essentially, an article made in a plurality of sections which are adapted to be manipulated in such a manner as to economize as much space as possible, at the same time involving a general simplicity and consequent cheapness, which adds greatly to the desirability of the same.

For a full description of theinvention and the merits thereof and also toacquire aknowL edge of the details of construction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of tray. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one of the pivoted sections disposed upon the other. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the tray folded. Fig. 4: is a sectional view of the folded tray. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the modified form of tray closed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all tlie views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The form of tray constituting this invention consists of a peculiar form -of base 1, which is adapted to be folded in such a manner as to occupy a minimum amount of space when not being used in the play. The base consists of a plurality of sections 2, which are pivoted together and adapted to move in the same plane when the same is being closed or opened to bring the several sections upon one another. The tray is preferably 7 made of flexible material, though this is not essential to the spirit of the invention, and the several sections are provided with pockets 3 at their outer ends, which are adapted to receive the sets of cards played during the hand after the said hand has been played. In the game of duplicate whist a number of trays of the character described are employed, the said number being in accordance with the size of each set used. The sections 2 when the tray is open are disposed at approximately right angles, the pivot-fastening 4 passing through the said sections centrally thereof and permitting movement of the said sections approximately in the same plane in a manner which will be readily seen. The hand being played, the cards are placed within the pockets, and the upper section is by a pivotal movement placed so as to lie upon the lower section. After the sections have been disposed in the above manner the ends carrying the pockets may be folded upon the central port-ions of each section and the tray is ready to be laid aside preparatory to further use at a later stage in the game. Each of the pockets is provided with suitable insignia to properly indicate the positions of the players and the sets of cards played by them as the game is proceeding. Any desired means may be used to pivot the sections together, that shown being used merely to illustrate the means which is preferred.

The modified construction shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates the use of four different sections, each of the sections being pivoted at the end opposite to which the pocket is attached and embodies the same working principle as shown relative to the form illustrated in the other figuresof the drawings. The sections are disposed one upon the other by a pivotal movement, and they are shown in thisposition in Fig. 6. To fold the device, which is made of flexible material in the preferred form, the sections are disposed one above the other and-the card-holding ends folded toward the central portion of the base, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the initial disposal of the sections 1 means for pivoting the sections together dis- [0 with relation to each other being illustrated posed atadistance from the aforesaid retainer in Fig. 2. devices.

Having thus described the invention, What In testimony whereof I affix my signature q 5 is claimed as new is in presence of two witnesses.

A tray or holder for game apparatus com- GEORGE M. PIERCE. [L. 3.] prising a plurality of flexible sections, re- W'itnesses: tainer devices to receive cards or the like dis- F. L. HOLLIDAY,

posed upon the ends of the said sections, and 0. S. FREEMAN. 

